One of six other cities set to host Olympic events, Qingdao will welcome sailors eager to celebrate their success with the laid-back town's most famous export, Tsingtao beer. Contributor Alan Paul has more.

After a global tour marked by controversy, the Olympic torch has aroused passions of a different sort in China - ecstatic joy.

The Beijing Games are now officially around the corner. But the athletes aren't the only ones training for perfection. Chinese cheerleaders are busy putting finishing touches on routines of their own.

Communicating with your cabbie in Beijing can be a maddening experience.  But fear not, here's two things to help navigate the lingual gridlock.

Big screens, cheerleaders, trivia, and, surprisingly, tea. Alan Paul drops in on a viewing party for the NBA Finals - at 8:30 a.m. in Beijing.

The recent China Athletics Open was the next to last of 44 Good Luck Beijing test events. Contributor Alan Paul surveyed the scene and found those in attendance in awe of the Bird's Nest spectacle.

Just 88 days before the Opening Ceremony, contributor Alan Paul takes to the streets to gauge the pulse of Beijing. With anticipation mounting, many citizens hope the Games will bring a mutual understanding.

In his first entry, Alan Paul explains the significance the 2008 Olympics carry for not only the city of Beijing, but the country at large.